Modular structure for modular partition walls formed of juxtaposed panels

ABSTRACT

The modular supporting structure is intended to support juxtaposed panels in order to form a modular partition wall adapted to subdivide and define a space to be used as office into independent working zones. The modular supporting structure comprises a lower cross member, a plurality of intermediate cross members, an upper cross member and a plurality of upright spacers, each upright spacer connecting a pair of adjacently arranged cross members. Only one joining element is provided for the interconnection of each intermediate cross members to a pair of lower and upper upright spacers, respectively, at their point of concurrence, in order to form a supporting structure consisting of a framework of rectangular elementary cells intended to frame the juxtaposed panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of officefurnishings and, in particular, to the construction of sectionalpartition walls consisting of juxtaposed panels of the kind used inoffices for the purpose of dividing and defining an office space intoindependent zones.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] According to the known art, the construction of partitions of theaforementioned kind generally makes use of a supporting structurecomprising interconnected uprights and cross members which rest on thefloor of a space to be furnished and act as support for the panels inorder to frame the same within the uprights and the cross members of thesupporting structure. The panels are made from wooden, synthetic orcomposites materials or the like, and may exhibit a covering made of anaesthetically valuable material.

[0003] Such a construction has, however, some disadvantages which limitthe applicability thereof, unless provision is made for relativelyexpensive measures. As a matter of fact, with a supporting structuremade according to the conventional art of the kind described above bythe assembly of uprights and cross members, the variety of availablemeasures for the partitions to be erected is limited, for both theuprights and the cross members are generally produced with a limitednumber of measures. Moreover, a conventional supporting structureexhibits a serious disadvantage, viz. its rigidity tends to decreasewhen the dimensions of the walls to be erected exceed certain limits,and this sets a more stringent restriction to the measures of the wallswhich can be erected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention is aimed at obviating the above-mentioneddisadvantages of conventional supporting structures for partition walls,and provides a novel supporting structure for sectional partition wallsconsisting of juxtaposed panels.

[0005] According to the present invention, the modular supportingstructure is intended to support juxtaposed panels in order to form amodular partition wall adapted to subdivide and define a space to beused as office into independent working zones, and comprises a lowercross member, a plurality of intermediate cross members, an upper crossmember and a plurality of upright spacers, each upright spacerconnecting a pair of adjacently arranged cross members. Only one joiningelement is provided for the interconnection of each of said intermediatecross members to a pair of said lower and said upper upright spacers,respectively, at their point of concurrence, in order to form asupporting structure consisting of a framework of rectangular elementarycells intended to frame the juxtaposed panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The invention will now be described in more detail in relation toa preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of example only andnot limited thereto, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 is an isometric projection view of a sectional partitionwall formed of juxtaposed panels and made with the modular supportingstructure according to the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is an isometric projection view of the modular supportingstructure in the assembled condition;

[0009]FIG. 3 is an isometric projection view of a modular supportingstructure similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2, but having a differentlength;

[0010]FIG. 4 is an isometric projection view of a modular supportingstructure similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2, but having a differentwidth;

[0011]FIG. 5A is an isometric projection view of the modular supportingstructure of FIG. 2, shown with its components in a partiallydisassembled condition;

[0012]FIG. 5B is an isometric projection view of a portion of themodular supporting structure of FIG. 2 during the assembly of thepartition wall forming panels; and

[0013]FIGS. 6 through 9 show the various assembling steps for forming ofthe modular supporting structure according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014]FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a sectional partition wallmember 10 intended to be joined together with other similar members, notshown in the Figure, in order to form a wall adapted to subdivide aninterior space to be used as an office according to specific functionaland aesthetical criteria. Such a partition wall member is formed in amanner known per se, by juxtaposing several decorative panels 11.

[0015] For supporting the panels 11 of the sectional partition wallmember 10, according to this invention, there is provided an improvedmodular supporting structure, generally designated by 20 in FIG. 2. Thissupporting structure 20 comprises a lower cross member 21, one or moreintermediate cross members 22, an upper cross member 23 and a pluralityof upright spacers 24. The lower cross member 21, the intermediate crossmembers 22, the upper cross member 23 and the upright spacers 24 arejoined together at their point of concurrence in a manner which will bedescribed hereunder, in order to form a framework intended to frame thejuxtaposed decorative panels 11 which form the modular partition wall10. In virtue of the fact that the cross members 21,22,23 and thespacers 24 are joined together in order to form a framework consistingof a plurality of rectangular elementary cells having measures which areindependent from the overall dimensions of the sectional partition wall10, the modular supporting structure 20 of the present inventionexhibits a greater rigidity than the known supporting structures forforming sectional partition walls.

[0016] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, there areillustrated two possible variants of the modular supporting structure 20in accordance with the present invention. By observing these variants,one can see that they differ in that the length and width of the crossmembers 21,22,23 and the number of spacers 24 are different. It ispossible to erect supporting structures of different dimensions bysuitably choosing the length and width of the cross members and thenumber of spacers while maintaining unchanged however thecharacteristics of rigidity of the supporting structure which are givenby the interconnecting of the cross members and the spacers to form aplurality of rectangular elementary cells.

[0017] In FIG. 5A of the drawings, there is shown the arrangement bywhich the lower cross member 21, the intermediate cross members 22, theupper cross member 23, the upright spacers 24 are joined together toform the sectional partition wall 10 shown in FIG. 1. For a betterunderstanding of the means by which the interconnection of the crossmembers and the spacers is realised, the illustration of the decorativepanels 11 forming the partition wall member 10 has been omitted. For theinterconnection of the intermediate cross members 22 and the uprightspacers 24 a special joining element, generally designated by 25, isused, whereas for the interconnection of the lower cross member 21 andthe upper cross member 23 to the upright spacers 24 ordinary connectionmeans, e.g. screws, are used which are generally indicated as 26 and 27,respectively.

[0018]FIG. 5B illustrates the arrangement by which the decorative panels11 are joined together with the lower cross member 21, the intermediatecross member 22, the upper cross member 23 and the spacers 24 to formthe sectional partition wall 20. As can be seen, in the smaller verticalsides of each decorative panel 11 a groove S is formed which extendsthroughout the length of the smaller side of the decorative panel and isintended to receive inside an upright spacer 24. The groove S is thenclosed by a covering element C which is fixed to the upright spacer 24,for example by means of a snap clip F, so that the upright spacer 24 isconcealed from view.

[0019] With reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 of the drawings, there is shown ingreater detail the joining element 25. This joining element 25 issubstantially formed by a smooth circular cylindrical shank 25A having aflange-forming enlargement 25B and a pair of threaded end portions 30,31extending from the lower portion and the upper portion of the shank 25Aof the joining element, respectively. The free end of the threaded endportion 31 terminates in a hexagonal head portion 32 in order to permitit to be operated by means of a tool as described in the following.

[0020] Again in FIGS. 6 to 9, it can be seen that the cross members 22are provided with a through hole 33 made at each end thereof which isintended to receive the shank 25A of the joining element 25. The upperand lower opening of the hole 33 are located in a depressed surface 34made on the upper and lower sides of the intermediate cross member 22.This depressed surface 34 acts as an abutment surface for the flange 25Bof the joining element 25 thus permitting the shank 25A of the joiningelement 25 to be retained inside the hole 33 so that the lower 30 andthe upper 31 threaded end portions project from the upper and the lowerside, respectively, of the free ends of the cross member 22. Since theshank 25A of the joining element 25 is smooth, the joining element 25 islodged in the hole 33 with the possibility to turn around itslongitudinal axis. The depressed surface 34 further acts as an abutmentsurface also for the end portion of the upright spacers 24 connected tothe associated intermediate cross member 22. A similar depressed surface34 is made also on the upper side of the lower cross member 21 and inthe lower side of the upper cross member 23 at the free ends thereof, inorder to act as abutment surface for the end portions of the uprightspacers 24 connected to said cross members 21,23.

[0021] The upright spacers 24 are provided with a threaded hole at boththe lower and the upper end portions which is adapted to receive thelower 30 and upper 31 threaded end portions, respectively, of thejoining element 25. Moreover, on the outer surface at the upper endportion of the upright spacer a pair of oppositely arranged planesurfaces 29 are formed which are adapted to be operated by means of asuitable tool as described in the following.

[0022] The assembly of the modular supporting structure 20 and thedecorative panels 11 forming the sectional partition wall element 10 isperformed in the following steps.

[0023] In a first step, a first pair of joining elements 25 is insertedfrom the top into the holes 33 made in the free ends of a firstintermediate cross member 22 until the flange 25B of the shank 25A ofeach joining element 25 comes to a rest against the depressed abutmentsurface 34 surrounding the upper opening of the holes 33, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. In this condition, the lower and theupper threaded end portions 30 and 31, respectively, of the first pairof joining elements 25 project from the lower and the upper openings,respectively, of the holes 33 in the free ends of the intermediate crossmember 22 so that a pair of lower and upper upright spacers 24 can beconnected thereto.

[0024] In a second step, a pair of lower upright spacers 24 is connectedto the lower threaded end portions 30 of the first pair of joiningelements 25 assembled on the first intermediate cross member 22 by meansof a suitable tool, by acting on the hexagonal head portion 32 of eachupper threaded end portion 31 of the first pair of joining elements 25as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0025] In a third step, a pair of upper upright spacers 24 is joined tothe upper threaded end portions 31 of the first pair of joining elements25 assembled on the first intermediate cross member 22 by means of asuitable tool, by acting on the oppositely arranged plane surfaces 29 ofeach upright spacer 24 as shown in FIG. 9.

[0026] In a fourth step, a first decorative panel 11 is inserted betweenthe pair of upper upright spacers 24 connected to the first intermediatecross member 22, by passing the upper pair of upright spacers 24 withinthe corresponding grooves S obtained in the smaller vertical sides ofthe first decorative panel 11, and then the grooves S are closed byapplying the covering elements C to the upright spacers 24, so as toconcealed them from view.

[0027] In a fifth step, a second intermediate cross member 22 isconnected to the pair of upright spacers 24 which have been previouslyconnected to the first intermediate cross member 22 by inserting asecond pair of joining elements 25 into the holes 33 in the free ends ofthe second intermediate cross member 22 and by screwing the lowerthreaded end portions 30 of each joining element 25 in the holesprovided in the upright spacers 24, in order to connect the secondintermediate cross member 22 to said the pair of upright spacers 24, andthus frame the first decorative panel 11.

[0028] Thereafter, the operation described in the third, fourth andfifth steps, respectively, is repeated for all the other intermediatecross members 22 concerned.

[0029] In a sixth step, a lower decorative panel 11 is inserted betweenthe lower pair of upright spacers 24 which are connected to the lowestintermediate cross member 22 and the lower cross member 21 is connectedto said pair of upright spacers 24 by means of the screws 26, so as toframe the decorative panel 11 which is at the base of the sectionalpartition wall 10.

[0030] In a seventh and last step, an upper decorative panel 11 isinserted between the upper pair of upright spacers 24 which areconnected to the highest intermediate cross member 22, and the uppercross member 23 is connected to the upper pair of upright spacers 24 bymeans of the screws 27, and then the screw caps 28 are applied thereon,so as to conceal the screws from view. Thus, also the decorative panel11 at the top of the sectional partition wall 10 is framed.

[0031] From the foregoing it is apparent how the modular supportingstructure in accordance with the present invention allows a sectionalpartition wall of different, even comparatively big dimensions to beerected without prejudice of the rigidity of the wall, and this isachieved in a comparatively simple and economic way, since alldecorative panels forming such wall are framed by cross members andspacers fixedly connected together to form a framework of rectangularelementary cells.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular supporting structure (20) intended tosupport juxtaposed panels (11) in order to form a sectional partitionwall (10) adapted to subdivide and define a space to be used as officeinto independent working zones, wherein it comprises a lower crossmember (21), a plurality of intermediate cross members (22), an uppercross member (23) and a plurality of upright spacers (24), each uprightspacer (24) connecting a pair of adjacently arranged cross members(21,22,23), and that only one joining element (25) is provided for theinterconnection of each of said intermediate cross members (22) to alower and upper pair of upright spacers (24), respectively, at theirpoint of concurrence, in order to form a supporting structure consistingof a framework of rectangular elementary cells intended to frame thejuxtaposed panels (11).
 2. A modular supporting structure according toclaim 1, wherein the joining element (25) exhibits an intermediatecircular cylindrical shank (25A) having a flange-forming enlargement(25B) and a pair of threaded end portions (30,31) extending from thelower and the upper portions, respectively, of the shank (25A) of thejoining element (25).
 3. A modular supporting structure according toclaim 1, wherein each intermediate cross members (22) exhibits a throughhole (33) at their free ends which is intended to receive said joiningelement (25), and a depressed surface (34) surrounding the upper and thelower openings of said through hole (33).
 4. A modular supportingstructure according to claim 3, wherein the depressed surface (34)provided around the upper opening of the holes (33) at the free ends ofeach intermediate cross member (22) acts as an abutment surface for theflange-forming enlargement (25B) of the joining element (25) when thisis inserted in the respective hole (33), so as to allow the pair ofthreaded end portions (30,31) extending from the lower and the upperportion, respectively, of the shank (25A) of the joining element (25) toproject from the lower and the upper opening, respectively, of the hole(33) in order to permit an associated upright spacer (24) to beconnected thereto.
 5. A modular supporting structure according to claim2, wherein the upright spacers (24) exhibit a threaded hole at each endportion thereof which is intended to receive the lower (30) and upper(31) threaded end portion, respectively, of the joining element (25). 6.A modular supporting structure according to claim 5, wherein, in orderto permit the lower threaded end portion (30) of the joining element(25) to be screwed in the hole made in the upper end of an uprightspacer (24), a hexagonal head portion (32) is provided at the upper endof the upper threaded end portion (31) of said joining element (25) foroperation by a suitable tool.
 7. A modular supporting structureaccording to claim 5, wherein, in order to permit the upper threaded endportion (31) of the joining element (25) to be screwed in the hole madein lower end of an upright spacer (24), a pair of oppositely arrangedplane surfaces (29) are provided on the outer surface of the uprightspacer (24), preferably in its upper portion, for operation by asuitable tool.
 8. A modular supporting structure according to claim 1,wherein each panel (11) exhibits a groove (S) cut in its smallervertical sides, extending throughout the length of said smaller verticalside, and intended to accommodate an upright spacer (24).
 9. A modularsupporting structure according to claim 8, wherein, in order to concealfrom view the upright spacer (24) accommodated in the groove (S), acovering element (C) is provided which is intended to be attached to theupright spacer (24) by means of snap-fastening means (F).
 10. A modularsupporting structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower crossmember (21) exhibits a pair of through holes at its free ends to which apair of upper upright spacers (24) are connected by means of screws (26)inserted in said holes.
 11. A modular supporting structure according toclaim 1, wherein the upper cross member (23) exhibits a pair of throughholes at its free ends to which a pair of lower upright spacers (24) areconnected by means of screws (27) inserted in said holes, a coveringelement (28) being also provided for said screws (27) so as to concealthem from view.